I have been updating the public database NovaMuse.ca with any additional information such as research, photographs, updates and so on. The challenge has been to get the work done on the larger objects. I have been working on the objects pictured below. Normally for objects of this size a simple, general clean would be done and then store them away. However, in this case, these objects work well as teaching tools for education in maintenance procedures and the tool usage by maintenance staff in the early days of railroads in Annapolis Valley. Therefore, I have elected to carefully brush away and pry loose as much of the corrosion as I can and then apply a layer of wax to seal these from moisture and facilitate handling and storage. I have documented these procedures on metal objects in detail in the past so won't repeat them here.
It is likely that the first tool below was used on locomotives. It fits nuts of 4.0 cm at one end and 4.5 cm at the other. It is S shaped to fit in tight situations. It has the letters DAR etched at each end just below the bottom of the U on both sides which stands for Dominion Atlantic Railway. Just a short distance down the handle are the letters CS which I have asked local railway collectors about. The theory is that this stands for Car Shop. In other words railway car shop. I know from previous research that, in the past, employees would etch their initials in tools that they owned when an employer insisted that employees supply their own tools. It was a source of pride for craftsmen to have their own tools.
 |
| Locomotive Wrench |
The second tool below was used to open the lid on a greasing box above the wheels of a rail car and then used to pack in grease. The wheel bearings were checked regularly by the maintenance staff in case they were heating up due to the friction when the grease was running low. Overheating could cause breakdown of the bearings and potentially lead to a derailment. This tool was essential to the safe operation of the railway. It does not have an etched marks.
 |
| Bearing Grease Tool |
No comments:
Post a Comment